Sheetsxsheet i



April 15, 1952 v. c. ANDERSON 2,593,084

ADJUSTABLE APRON FEEDER Filed Feb. e, 1949 2 srmETs-smw 1 2/ l ZZ 3.5- 34 l 36, 37

INVENTOR. Ver/Y C'. NQ/emO/v April 15, 1952 v. c. ANDERSON 2,593,084

ADJUSTABLE APRoN FEEDER Filed Feb. 9, 1949 y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 JNVENTOR. Ver/y C. A/yc/emso/v Patented Apr. 15,1952

Vern C. Anderson, Hastings, Nebr.

Application February 9, 1949, Serial No. 75,394 Y 2 Claims.

This invention relates to feed grinders and more particularly to improvements in an adjust- 'able apron feeder comprising aconveyor and chute for delivering materials to the grinder.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a feeder which may be adjusted to various positions relative to a grinder so that it is suiiiciently versatile to feed all types of material to be ground and also toV dispose the loading or receiving end of the conveyor in an opimum position relative to the locus of the sup- ,Ply of material.

Another object is to 'provide a conveyor and chute which are adjustable relative to each other, each being adjustable relative to a grinder.

Another object is to provide a conveyor which will deliver material to a chute without spillage from the conveyor system.

j Another object is to provide a power drive transmission between a grinder and conveyor which will drive the conveyor in all positions of adjustment thereof relative to the grinder.

Another object is to provide a novel dam for `the receiving end' of the conveyor which will prevent loss of small grain or other material.

Another object is to provide a novel supporting leg vconstruction for the receiving end of the conveyor which permits a wide range of angular adjustmentv of the conveyor relative to the grinder. Another object is to provide a feeder construction which is simple in construction and subject'to economical manufacture.

`Still further objects, advantages, and salient features will become more apparent from a con- 'sideration of the description to follow, the appendedclaims,` and the accompanying drawing, in which:`

Figure l is a side elevation of the apron feeder and chute in one position of adjustment relative to a feed grinder, a fragment of the latter being shown at the right;

Figure 2 isa top plan thereof, in the direction of arrow 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation taken on line 3 3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top perspective of the rear or receiving end of the feeder;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5 5 Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6 6, Figure 1; Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a por- 2 tion of the device shown in Figure 1, the parts being shown in another position of adjustment;

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8 8, Figure 2; Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9 9, Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a sideV elevation similar to Figure 1, to reduced scale, showing one of the various positions of adjustment;

vFigure'll is a similar` vewshowing another positionof adjustment; A

' Figure 12 is a vertical section taken through line I2 l2, Figure 2, showing the various parts in one of the positions of adjustment; and

Figure 13 is a section taken online `|3-|3,

. Figure 7.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a feed grinder 2l) to which is aiiixed an apron feeder comprising a chute 2| and a feed conveyor 22. The grinder includes a feed roll 23 and any other feed devices which cooperate with it to feed ,material to the grinder elements of the machine. Since the grinder is conventional and the subject of the invention may be used with different types of grinders, only a fragment of the grinder has been shown in the interests of clarity, this .element per se comprising no part of the invention and being well known in the art.

The chute is channel shaped, having a door 24 and side Walls 25, 26, the latter having curled upper edges 21, 23. A lug 29 (see Fig. 8) projects downwardly from the chute oor through an aperture 30 in the floor 3l of the grinder. This lug ts the aperture loosely which permits the chute to pivot about the rear edge of floor 3|. A cotter key 32 extends through the lug and secures the chute to the grinder. A pair of lugs 33, oneof which is shown in Figure 9, engages the rear edge offloor 3|, one of each side of lug 29, and steady the chute against movement in a horizontal plane. To secure the chute in a desired position of adjustment, a pair of bars 34 is provided, one on each side of the chute, the rear ends being pivotally secured at 35 to the chute side walls and the front ends each having a set of notches 36 'which engage a loop shaped member 31 provided on each side of the grinder. If it is desired to raise the chute, the rear end is merely lifted, and bars 34 will slide forwardly through loops 31 and the loops will enter one of the notches-thus securing the chute against retrograde movement. When it is desired to lower the chute, the bars 34 are lifted slightly and the chutel lowered to a desired position after which f 3 the bars are dropped with the loops engaging a different notch.

The conveyor comprises sheet metal side walls 38, 39, which have lower portions 40, 4I (Fig. 3), disposed in parallel relation. These portions are secured to downwardly extending flanges 42, 43, on iloor 44 of the conveyor. A plurality of cross braces'45 (Fig. 3) join the lower edges of the structure just described, these being spaced along the length of the feeder;

A shaft 46 is journaled in suitable bearings on each side wall of the conveyor at the front end thereof. A similar shaft 41 is journaled in adjustable bearings 48 adjacent the rear end of the conveyor. Each of these carries a pair of sprockets, such as sprocket 49 (Fig. 5)-,1 aboutywhichV chains 50 are trained. Angle iron cross .bars .5.1. are welded to the chains at spaced intervals, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4, which slide along oor 44 as they move along their upper flight.

At the rear or receiving end ofY the-conveyor, ancurved' guard member 52 extends between the side walls of theconveyor andV forwardly` thereof covering the conveyor chains and cross barsY securedithereto. A removable-darnV 53 extendsibetween the side walls of the conveyor, being. secured thereto rby-flanges 54 randscrews- 55.. A- flexible strip of materialr56 such:r as rubber ory fabric reinforced rubber, is secured toga face ofv the dam by a suitable metal strip 51 securedto the dam. The strip or gate; 5b` has cut-outs 5,8 through which. the chains: pass. When a cross bar or slat 5|A engages the gate, it opens. it asz it passes thereunder after whichy the gate Aautomat-- ically closes.

The rear end of the conveyor is adjustablyy se*- .cured to thefront of. thechute by a construction to now be described. At each, side ofthe-conveyor anarm 59. ispivotallysecuredtoa-side wallfthereof byV a bolt 60, this arm beingv curved, to-pass beneath shaft 4t; The frontend of, this 4arnris aperturedto receive a bolt 6| and alSoisslotted at 62 to receive a -bolti 63. The heads' of'the ybolts slide in a suitable undercut 'guide' 64 (see Figs. 7 and 13) and when these bolts are tightened, the conveyor and chutearesecured in-.fiXe d relation.

The side wallspof Vthe chute have.cut'outs or slots 65, the lower edges of which curve upwardly and forwardly. These provide clearance forthe front shaft bearings orthe shaft so that the conveyor may be moved upwardly and forwardly. Figure 7 illustrates; a Vposition inY which thefioors of the conveyor and chute are sov relatedthatthe Afloor ofthe chute forms a. continuationk of zthe floor of the conveyozg'the vends of the floors substantially abutting.V Figurev 12 illustratesa position in which the conveyor has been moved up- `wardly and forwardly in slots 65. It will Lbe'noted that the front or delivery lend of the conveyor now overlaps the floor of the chute so that Inaterial' will not spill over rear edge 66 of the. chute. It will, of course, be understood that arms 5.9

may 'secure the chute and feeder in any interme- =diateposition betweenfthose shown in Figures '1 and12.

The conveyor is driven by a pulley 61 secured to shaftg45; a'pull'ey 68 driven bya grindercone -veyor roll, or other source; of power take-o1and abelt 69 trained over thesey pulleys. To` compensate for the changev in the distance of, the 'belt flight when. the conveyor'and chutev are adjusted to; aA new position, an idler pulley 10 mounted on an armA 1i is provided; One end ofthisl arm isppivoted to, the grindereandris swung fto,v a position to tension the belt, or remove slack therefrom, after which it is locked in position by any suitable means, such as the bolt b which secures it to the grinder.

The rear or receiving end of the conveyor is adjustably supported by a leg construction which `will now be described. As shown in Figures l, 4, and 6, a pair of angle iron legs 12 are each pivoted to the conveyor at their upper ends by bolts 13, as shown in Figure 1, the leg on the opposite side being identical. Within legs 12 another pair of legs 14 are slidably arranged, as best shown in Figure 6, the latter being joined together at theirv lower ends 4by an angle iron cross member 15. A loop 16 is welded to each leg 12 and threadedly carries a set screw 11. ofthe conveyor has been moved to a desired elevation, the set screws are tightened maintaining it thereat. A U-shaped brace 1B of strap metal has its ends 19 bolted to the sides of the conveyor andbolts 8i] extend through. intermediate portions of the legs` of the U. and legs 12. When the conveyor is somewhere near horizontal bolts B are in place and brace 1S retains thelegs substantially perpendicular to the conveyor. When it is desired to position the receiving end of the conveyor lower than would be possible with the telescopic leg construction described, bolts are removed and legs 12, 14, swing forward as shown iii-Figure l0, the delivery end ofv the conveyor now being supported by brace 18 which now becomes the leg of the conveyor. 1f it is desired to rest the receiving end of the conveyor on the ground or door, brace, or leg 13 is merely swung forward as'shown inFigure 1l. The leg construction just described permits the conveyor to be adjusted, as desired, from positions above horizontal to positions below the horizontal, and to the ground or floor.

Havingrdescribed indetailthe construction of the machine, the utility of the various parts and its manner of use will now be set forth. If it is desired to feed hay or roughage to the grinder or mill, the dam may be removed and the conveyor andvchute adjusted to a substantially level position, as shown in Figure l. If it is desired to feed ear corn, the dam is secured in position and the rear end adjusted as shown in Figure 11 adjacent the corn crib. In this position very little scooping is necessary and the gate 53 prevents leakage of grain behind the dam. If a slightly higher position is desired, it may be disposed as shown in Figure 10. Ii it is desired to elevate the receiving end to wagon or truck bed height, the legs may be adjusted accordingly, it being apparent that the receiving end may be elevated above horizontal. tively conveys green, wet, and dry fodder, hay of all kinds, ear Ior snapped corn, and all kinds of small grain. When feeding the'latter, especially, the overlap of the conveyor andchute as shown in Figure 12 is especially important since spillage of grain over edge 66 is minimized. Thegate on the dam, of course, prevents grain leakage at the receiving end of the conveyor. Itis also to be observed (see Fig. 2) thatV the portions ofi side Walls above the floor of the conveyor converge from the receiving end toward the deliveryend. The widening at the receiving end vfacilitates loading since it provides a greater Width into which material may be delivered without the necessity of widening the conveyor floor.

Having described the invention'what is claimed as new is: y

l. A feeding and grinding device comprising;

When the rear end` The conveyor effec a feed grinder provided', at its front end with a receiver having a substantially horizontal Afloor and upstanding sidewalls at the sides thereof for receiving feed, an endless conveyor having a floor and side walls, a chute having a floor and side walls, interposed, respectively, between the iloors of the conveyor andY the receiver of the feed grinder and between the side walls of the latter, means pivotally connecting the front end of the chute to the rear end of the feed grinder receiver for movement in a vertical plane, means for securing together the rear end of the chute and the front end of the conveyor in various relative positions, one of said positions being with the floors of the grinder, receiver, chute, and conveyor disposed in substantially the same plane, and another position wherein the rear end of the conveyor oor is spaced above and overlapping the chute floor, and means for securing the parts in adjusted position.

, 2. -In a material treating device, a material receiver having a substantially horizontal oor for receiving material thereon, said floor having an aperture therein adjacent its rea-r edge, a chute having a oor arid side walls, the floor of the chute forming a continu-ation of the receiver floor and having a downwardly projecting lug at its front end extending through the aperture, means securing the lugfto the receiver, other lugs on the chute floor engaging the front edge of the receiver oor, an Aendless conveyor disposed at the rear of the chute, Vcurved slots in the side Walls of the chute to permit the front end of the conveyor to be moved upwardly and forwardly relative to the chute, an arm pivotally secured `at an end thereof to the conveyor, at each side of the latter, each armhaving a slot at its other end, T-slot means on each side wall of the chute, extending longitudinally' thereof, bolt means extending through each arm slot and engaging its corresponding T-slot means, other bolt means extending through a mid-portion of each arm and engaging its corresponding T-slot means,

bars pivotally secured at one end to the top rear end of each side wall of the chute, a plurality of notches near the front end of each bar, loop means on the receiver through which the bars extend and with which a notch may engage to secure the front end of the chute in a desired position of vertical adjustment, a pulley rotat-Q ably mounted on the receiver in a position out of line with the chute lugs, a pulley secured to REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name f Date 52,230 Walker Jan. 2.3, 1866 147,468 Bailey Feb. 17, 1874 215,510 Davis May 20, 1879 215,818 Hough May 27, 1879 264,311 Maloy Sept. 12, 1882 358,042 Ketch Feb. 22, 1887 599,500 Gilman Feb. 22, 1898 739,373 Baird Sept. 22, 1903 769,635 Rankin Sept.`6', 1904 783,771 Anderson Feb. 28, 1905 784,332 Knight Mar. 7, 1905 1,046,998 Devey et al Dec. 10, 1912- 1,459,271 Von EngelnA June 19, 1923 1,797,107 Veeder Mar. 17, 1931 1,861,779 Bornhauser June 7, 1932 1,960,836 Yander May 29, 1934 2,095,385 Heisserman Oct. 12,1937 2,224,442 Mankoff Dec. 10, 1940 2,478,733 Wright Aug. 9, 1949 

